By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have dealt a major blow to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, foiling their attacks on military positions in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State and the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS), Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA of Yobe State, between October 29 and 30, 2026.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, on October 30, 2026.
In Bitta, troops decisively disorganised an attempted terrorist assault on the night of October 29. The combined response of ground troops and air support overwhelmed the attackers, thwarting their plan and inflicting heavy casualties.
In a related development, troops launched a successful counter-attack against a large concentration of ISWAP fighters who attacked NETTS Buni Yadi from October 29 into the early hours of October 30. The approximately five-hour engagement was coordinated by the Theatre Command, with effective integration of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, alongside air and ground assets.
The decisive counter-offensive resulted in 48 terrorists killed, with troops recovering a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition. Recovered items include 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), one 60mm mortar, 105 AK-47 magazines and two video cameras.
Also recovered were 30 rounds of 12.7mm armour-piercing incendiary ammunition, 2,738 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 223 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 2,054 rounds of PKT ammunition.
The engagements recorded one soldier who paid the supreme price, while two others who sustained minor injuries are responding to treatment. The morale of troops remains high as they sustain operations against terrorist elements across the theatre.
The latest operational successes further demonstrate the troops’ combat effectiveness, operational coordination and determination to deny terrorists freedom of action. The heavy losses suffered by the insurgents and the recovery of their weapons and ammunition constitute another significant setback to their operational capabilities.
